The Best Way to Store Lemons So They Last Longer, According to Experts

Fresh lemons are among the most-used MVPs in our Test Kitchen. We use them in salad dressings, one of our most popular chicken recipes of all time, the dessert of summer, cocktails new (Amalfi Diet) and nostalgic (Bee’s Knees), and beyond. Both the zest and the juice are ideal for perking up sweet and savory recipes, and this superpowered citrus even comes in clutch to help clean cutting boards and dishwashers.

Our recipe developers and food stylists go through so many of these sunny citrus fruits that we rarely have time to think about where and how to store lemons. As soon as they’re delivered from the supermarket, we’re putting those beauties to work! But at home, our team is more like you; using lemons at a less rapid, yet still regular, clip. When we polled our editors about where they store their lemons at home, the answer was nearly unanimous: at room temperature, often in a fruit bowl or basket. 

After speaking to the experts, we have to confess that we’ve been storing lemons wrong all along—and are sacrificing up to 3 weeks of potential extra lifespan. Have you, too?

How to Choose Lemons

Not to be confused with Meyer lemons (which are smaller, juicier, and more orange-yellow in hue), the “classic” gold standard lemons sold at major retailers in America are usually one of three varieties, according to U.S. Citrus: Lisbon, Eureka, and Bearss.

Regardless of the exact species of lemon, avoid any pieces that are soft, wrinkly, or show signs of spoilage, such as mold. Instead, look for fruit that checks the following boxes to ensure it’s fresh:

• Thick, taught, bright yellow skin
• Feels heavy for its size
• Gives slightly to gentle pressure
• Emits a bright and pleasant fragrance

How to Store Lemons

Once you’ve picked your lemons from your tree (lucky you!) or the grocery store, it’s time to store them safely and in a way that will allow you to max out their fresh shelf life.

Here’s how to store lemons in the peel, as well as lemon wedges, slices, or halves.

Whole Lemons

Lemons thrive when kept between 45° to 50° F. Although this is slightly warmer than fridge temp (40° F or below, per USDA food safety recommendations), the refrigerator is a much better choice than room temperature for extended storage, confirms Ryan Sankey, a Fresco, California-based produce field inspector for Whole Foods Market.

“Refrigerating whole lemons, especially in warmer climates, will help your fruit last longer. If your house is cool or you plan on using lemons fairly quickly, there may be no need to refrigerate,” Sankey says.

As a general rule, unless you plan to use them within a day or two, the best place to store lemons is in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. This is because “lower temperatures help slow the lemon’s maturation process and retain moisture and freshness,” Sankey explains.

Since lemons are sensitive to the ethylene gas some other produce items naturally produce, Sarah Brekke, M.S., former Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen brand manager you definitely don't want to keep lemons in a fruit bowl or basket that includes other fruits. Brekke suggests placing unwashed, dry lemons in an airtight container, then placing them in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer (or any shelf of the fridge if you’re out of space in the crisper). While perfectly safe, ethylene—produced by foods like apples, bananas, stone fruit, and tomatoes—can speed up ripening of ethylene-sensitive fresh fare nearby. 

That said, if you happen to have scored some rock hard, underripe lemons and are hoping to juice them soon, the reverse may actually  be your best bet for storing lemons. Keep them at room temperature, and to really ramp up ripening, place your lemons near bananas or other ethylene-emitters.

Cut Lemons 

Before zesting lemons or slicing into the fruit, rinse the peel well under cool, running water. Once you’ve cut into the lemons, they must be refrigerated. Try to keep the lemon pieces as large as possible (for example, halves are better than slices) to preserve as much moisture as possible. Wrap the cut-side of each lemon piece in plastic wrap, transfer it to a zip-top bag or airtight container, then refrigerate, Sankey and Brekke recommend.

How Long Do Lemons Last? 

If you’re used to having lemons at arm’s reach in a fruit bowl—perhaps you even use this as part of your kitchen decor—it can feel like a hassle to switch up your storage method to the fridge. But if you’re aiming to make the most of your main squeezes, this change will pay off.

Compared to lemons stored at room temperature, which last about 1 week, Brekke reveals that refrigerated whole lemons can last up to a month.

This translates into less food waste and more opportunities to make more Honey-Lemon Cottage Cheese Pancakes, Greek Lemon Potatoes, Lemon Bars, and Lone Rangers!